when you want a slow burn horror novel about modern fertility

I do not read much horror, but I absolutely had to make an exception for a book billed as an IVF horror novel and blurbed as a “feminist update to Rosemary’s Baby.”

“Delicate Condition” is really about the sad state of women’s health care and how we are constantly ignored and gaslit by far too many medical practitioners. It’s written in the same vein as “Human Blues” by Elisa Albert.

Our protagonist Anna is a moderately successful actress who’s desperate to have a baby. Against all odds, her IVF cycle works, and she’s pregnant — until a doctor tells her she’s had a miscarriage.

But Anna is convinced she’s still pregnant, and her symptoms become increasingly horrifying. Who — or what — is she really carrying?

The ending payoff is IMMENSE. There was a moment I thought I knew what was going on. I was wrong, and I was completely blown away. If you’re a horror reader, you have to pick this one up!

The book is described as "The Push" meets "The Silent Patient," and it is quite the gripping thriller. The comparison isn't what it seems, thank goodness. I LOVED "The Silent Patient" and disliked "The Push." The closest similarity I found to "The Push" was the pregnancy. I am huge horror fan, and I would defend that this novel is horror.

Anna and Dex want to have a baby more than anything. After multiple IVF treatments- they find that they are pregnant! And then queue the odd things happening. I read this in preparation for American Horror Story and I was not disappointed. It was hard to put down, creepy and fantastic!
Highly recommend to horror/thriller lovers.
4 stars

This book was just not for me. I can see why many people will love it but it wasn't for me. The characters were well developed and I felt all that Anna was going through. Unfortunately the end is where it lost me. It went in a direction that I just didn't care for. It also kind of leans more toward horror than thriller.



Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the digital arc.

Not the hugest fan of this story. It felt a little tried, and the ending was a little lackluster and unsatisfactory.

I gave this a three out of five stars, some of this was boring and I wasnt interested it. Other times I was interested and enjoyed it. The ending was different than I thought it would be. I might try other books by this author.

QUICK TAKE: I loved this. The Rosemary's Baby comp is spot-on, and I just thought it delivered on every level with a really great final act twist that left me extremely satisfied.

I loved this one! It was a super creepy read, and the twists and turns just kept coming. It was very engrossing and enjoyable, and I want to see more from this author!

This book started out strong with a unique plot and the creepiest of vibes. Pitched as Rosemary’s Baby with a feminist twist, it surely lived up to that description. ⁣
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It got a bit repetitive around the 70% mark and I found myself starting to skim. I also felt like one fewer twist would have helped the story keep its focus. Overall, a decent book for spooky season, but definitely avoid this book if you are pregnant or may be soon!

✨ ℝ𝔼𝕍𝕀𝔼𝕎 ✨

Genre: Thriller/Horror
Format: eGalley/Kindle
Pages: 432
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“ 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘱𝘢𝘪𝘯. 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘦𝘭𝘴𝘦. 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯.”

Thank you so much to @netgalley and @bookmarked for this #eArc.

Swipe for my synopsis ➡️

My thoughts: When I heard that the latest season of AHS was based on this book, I knew I had to read it immediately. I couldn’t put this down after the first 50 pages. Every time I thought I had it figured out, I was proven wrong. I have whiplash from all the twists in this one but it was not merely a “popcorn” thriller. This nod to Rosemary’s Baby also highlights important female and systemic issues. It’s important to note that Valentine stated in the author’s note that this was intended to be a hyperbole of female struggles experienced in healthcare and pregnancy; don’t take this too literally. As a healthcare professional and a woman, I can attest to patients’ frustrations when they don’t receive answers and I agree that the healthcare industry has failed many people. Sometimes when it’s impossible to obtain answers, it is even more crucial to make patients feel heard and provide support and education which, in my opinion, is extremely lacking. Just know that there are providers out there that do genuinely care. Overall, I really enjoyed this one and would recommend.

Themes explored: motherhood, sexism, infertility, loss, gaslighting, bias in healthcare, and denigration of female concerns.

I have to be honest.... I requested thos book because I had begun watching the AHS season (kind of) based on this book. That said, I definitely found the book much more interesting. I appreciated the obvious social commentary, as well as the mix of horror and exploration of grief, resentment, etc. I really, really enjoyed this book, and have been recommending it like crazy. Can't wait to see what she writes next.

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

I really wasn’t sure what to expect with this book but was pleasantly surprised! The story follows a woman and her husband who have been doing IVF, desperate for a baby of their own. Lots of chaos and madness ensues that will leave you questioning everyone and everything. It took me a while to figure out if she was an unreliable narrator or if something much more sinister was at play. Fair warning, it does venture into witchcraft and science fiction, just in case that’s a trigger or not your thing.

"Delicate Condition" by Danielle Valentine is an absolute must-read for fans of suspenseful and chilling narratives. A contemporary twist on "Rosemary's Baby," the storytelling is superb, with writing that flows effortlessly, making it an engrossing page-turner. The enigmatic mystery surrounding the main character's experiences is expertly woven into the narrative, keeping you on the edge of your seat and hungry for more.

“Nearly everyone on this planet was welcomed by the sounds of a woman screaming.”

Delicate Condition is being marketed as a feminst Rosemary’s Baby, and I can see why. But at an author event, Danielle Valentine said she liked to think about it more like what if Alien was about pregnancy? And I think that’s a wayyyyyyyyy better way of describing what unfolds.

The horrors creeps out very slowly, making them feel even more sinister. It feels like a traditional thriller until it isn’t. But as these horror elements build up, you’re confronted with the very real life horrors of the medical system and how it treats women.

Our MC Anna fights tooth and nail to get people to listen to her about what her body is doing. But time and time again she’s shut down by her husband, friends, and doctors. It’s infuriating as hell and what’s even more heartbreaking is seeing how this treatment has persisted over the years through various chapters in different POV that also slowly hint at what could be going on.

If I’d had the time I could’ve binged this in a couple sittings. I was eager to find out what was going on and who I could’ve trusted the entire time and who I couldn’t. It’s very easy to see why AHS picked this to base their season off of. It’s dark, culty, and a great addition to the good for her category.

This book was really good. What started out as a psychological thriller eventually morphed into a gruesome horror story. As someone who had three kids, the creepiness struck deep, and as someone who has been a doula for individuals going through IVF, the details are spot on. Definitely check trigger warnings! This story will not be suitable for all, but if you can get past them I highly recommend it! Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

The premise of this one was intriguing and I loved this author’s YA horror series, so I was definitely hyped for this book. I think this is the author’s first adult horror novel and I thought this book was pretty good and creepy. There are many triggers in this one, so be sure to look them up before reading.

This book was interesting but it took me forever to get through. I felt like the pacing was a little slow and didn’t really pick up until the end of the book. I love the author’s writing though so I’ll definitely be reading more from her.

3.5 stars

A terrifying horror novel about one woman's pregnancy. Anna is willing to do anything to conceive. She and her husband have already tried IVF several times, and this one seems like it might be their last chance. Of course, just as the pregnancy progresses, Anna's most recent acting role catapults her into the limelight. At the same time, strange things start happening involving the pregnancy. Does Anna have a stalker, one who is trying to stop this pregnancy? Or is it something even more sinister? Anna knows something is wrong, but she keeps getting written off as a hysterical woman. Will Anna be able to find the truth and survive this pregnancy?

This was quite scary. Not sure it was the best choice at my current stage in life, (trying to conceive)... At every turn, Anna is discredited. There are still so many unknowns with pregnancy. It seems like every experience is different, and even if you think something is wrong, you may not be believed. So that's scary in a realistic way, never mind the true horror elements that begin ramping up as the story progresses. There were a lot of unexpected twists and turns, and only one that I really saw coming. It's dark and emotional. Anna is a relatable protagonist who you truly feel for. Worth the read as long as you're prepared for some dark and creepy content.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Delicate Condition is a book that was already on my TBR, but when I learned that the new season of American Horror Story was based on it I knew I wanted to read it sooner rather than later. I’m so glad I did because this exceeded my expectations in more ways than one.

This novel delves deep into the themes of pregnancy, motherhood, and the complex landscape of navigating women's healthcare. The insightful social commentary added a layer of depth to the narrative, and I found myself completely engrossed in the story.

What truly sets this book apart is its spine-chilling portrayal of pregnancy loss and the entire pregnancy experience. The inherent vulnerability and stress that come with being pregnant are explored in a manner meant to send shivers down the reader’s spine, with elements of horror and tension reminiscent of Rosemary’s Baby. The notion of an otherworldly presence growing within a woman's womb became truly terrifying.

The main character Anna and her husband Dex stood out as they navigated the challenges of their IVF journey, serving as a commendable example of a couple facing these trials. While the supporting characters were decent, I hoped for more character exploration and a sinister twist in the final plot. Nevertheless, I appreciated how Valentine wrapped up the story. It was different from my expectations but ultimately satisfying.

While this may not be the most hair-raising horror novel, its thought-provoking messages make it a compelling read. I would recommend this book with the caveat that readers should be aware of potentially triggering content.

I loved this one! This one is in my opinion super graphic when it comes to miscarriage but I feel like as long as you know it going in you should be ok. Loved that I didn’t know who to trust or what to believe.

Rounded up from 3.5.
I'm not sure what to say about this book. It was definitely creepy and wild. I went into it expecting a thriller, in my opinion it's more horror than thriller. With that said, I also couldn't put it down. I just had to find out what in the world was going on. It did not disappoint. Just wow.
Thanks to netgalley the publisher and author for the chance to read this advanced copy.

Anna Alcott is desperate to become a mother. She went to great lengths to have a baby. Finally after months of intro fertilization she becomes pregnant. Someone behind the scenes is doing everything to make the pregnancy result in a miscarriage. Anna suffers a miscarriage but later begins to have pain and feel movement. People think she is losing her mind but in the end she delivers a healthy baby. This book will have you on the edge of your seat.